Dashboards & Infographics

Stat 365: Statistical Communication

Wednesday, May 17th

Today we will…

  • Intro to dashboards
  • Dashboards design
  • Tools for dashboards (RShiny, Tableau, etc.)

Car Dashboard1

Johns Hopkins Covid Dashboard1

CSU Enrollment1

What is a Dashboard?

  • Visual display of information (combination of text and graphics)
  • Display information to achieve a specific objective
  • Might include interactivity (e.g. dynamic)

Variations in dashboard uses

  • Role of the dashboard: strategic, analytical, operational
  • Type of data included in the dashboard
  • Update frequency
  • Interactivity

Types of interaction1

Select1

mark something as interesting

Explore1

show me something else

  • Scroll bars (scrollytelling)
  • Panning
  • Steppers
  • Direct walk (e.g. hyperlink travel)

Reconfigure1

show me a different arrangement

Encode1

show me a different representation

Abstract/Elaborate1

show me more or less detail

Filter1

show me something conditionally

Connect1

Dashboard Design (Best Practices)

  • Know your purpose and audience - Ask yourself, what are you trying to say with this Dashboard? Who are you saying this information to?
  • Take advantage of most viewed spots - You should start with your most important content in the top left. This is where most people start viewing a visualization.
  • Limit the number of views - In general, you should limit the number of views to two or three.
  • Show filters - Use of filters help specify which data is shown in the view.
  • Use highlighting - When turned on, a selection in one view can show relevant fields in other views.

RShiny

install.packages("shiny")

Getting Started in Shiny

See slides at https://unl-statistics.github.io/R-workshops/05-r-shiny/knitr/2-ShinyStructure.html#1

Resources

Recommended Reading + RStudio Tutorial for Shiny + Shiny Setup, Showcase, and Server setup Useful if you want to use shiny on your own webserver + Shiny Github Page See the latest updates + Shiny Mailing List Check the tutorial first, then search the mailing list.

Tableau Dashboards

Dashboards are a collection of worksheets and information shown in a single view. Worksheets and dashboards are connected.

Tableau: Dashboard Layout

  • On the Dashboard, several options are available on the left side menu.
  • The Dashboard pane allows you to toggle the different views available. Possible options include Default, Desktop, Tablet, and Phone.
  • The Size section allows you to change the default size of the dashboard.
  • The Sheets sections provides a list of available views that can be added to the dashboard.

Tableau: Dashboard Layout

Dashboards are a collection of worksheets and information shown in a single view. Worksheets and dashboards are connected.

Objects allow you to add visual appeal and interactivity to your dashboard.

  • Horizontal and Vertical - Containers that let you group related objects.
  • Text - Creates headers and explanations.
  • Image - Add visual graphics to the dashboard.
  • Web Page -
  • Blank - Help you adjust spacing between dashboard items.
  • Navigation - Lets your audience navigate from one object to another.
  • Download - Lets your audience download a PDF, PowerPoint, or PNG of entire dashboard.

Tableau: Dashboard Tips

Using the sheet drop down menu, you can add a Show/Hide button. This provides the option to toggle the sheet off and on.

If you edit a view on a worksheet, it will update on any dashboard using that view. This is the same for any view updated on a dashboard.

Sheets can be added to a dashboard by dragging them from the Dashboard pane over to the dashboard Canvas.

You can swap a sheet using this area. You first must click on the sheet on the dashboard.

Tableau: Dasbhoard Actions

Interactivity can be added to a dashboard to enhance your audience experience.

Using the dropdown menu on a sheet on the dashboard, you can add filters and highlighters. Along with interactivity, actions can be added to your dashboard.

Under the Dashboards menu, click Actions to set up a new Dashboard action.

  • Highlight Action - Use this action to call attention to marks of interest by coloring relevant marks and shading others.
  • Filter Actions - Use this action to send information between worksheets.
  • URL Actions - Uses a hyperlink that points to a webpage, file, or other web-base outside Tableau. Checking the box “single-select only” prevents navigation to a sheet after clicking it once.

Tableau: Publishing a Dashboard

Tableau provides the option to share your data sources (live or extract), dashboards, stories, and sheets with people using Tableau Server or Tableau Cloud.

When publishing to a server you have the options to

  • Add tags
  • Select which worksheets are published
  • Set permissions
  • Embed data sources

Once published, the workbook can be viewed using a web browser or the Tableau mobile app. Along with publishing a dashboard, workbooks can be exported as a PDF file option on the navigation bar.

Career services visit on Monday

Focus on resumes and cover letters.

We will discuss the final mini-project (Build Your Resume) next week. This will be completed using Overleaf.

Expectations for Monday

  • Attend class.
  • Be engaged (ask questions, nod your head, don’t be working on other things, etc.)

To do

Copy the Masters: First Draft

  • due Thursday, 5/18 at 11:59pm
  • Final Draft due Thursday, 5/25 at 11:59pm

Submit Two Question for Career Services

  • due Sunday, 5/21 at 11:59pm

Draft: Results and Discussion

  • due Monday, 5/22 at 11:59pm